Kingdom which afterwards was declared to be of dangerous consequence as tending to the destruction of Justice and the peace of the Kingdome witnesse the Parliaments Declaration of the 18 of January and likewise many other Votes after they came in as there it doth appeare and therefore there was a cause some of them should bee imprisoned and be brought to their triall and so it was that the Covenant binds unto Another thing they lay to their charge is the framing a new moddel of Lawes and Government which is against the lawfull Authority that God hath set over us contrary to the obedience we do ow unto them and those manifold oaths and Covenants we have bound our selves to render to them and against the Law of God also For answer to this is it against our Oaths taken or against the lawfull Government or against the authority of Magistrates for men to propound their apprehensions to them when they are set in place to make Lawes so as they leave them to themselves to consider of let the impartiall Reader judge and this is all that is yet done for there is none of these things forced yet and therefore for any to charge them with it yet is to judge before the time and so against that rule which bids us judge nothing before the time and against the rule of charity that thinketh not evill It is further said they have no colour of legall Authority but meerly upon presumption of strength to attempt these changes To which it may be answered as to what they have acted by way of Authority they have a reall authority so to act for they have it from the highest Authority in the Land and it is manifestly knowne and for their strength it was raised as is manifested before which was for the defence of the Parliament that they might act freely for the glory of God and the true liberties of the Kingdome anâ— therefore they need not act from presumption but from faith grounded upon a promise that being their way and in his also they might looke for protection and preservation for he hath promised to keep us in all our wayes and he hath done so to this day and will so doe if they seeke his glory as their end and walke in his way as the meanes It is further said they have gone contrary to their trust which was to preserve the Parliament Religion and liberties of the Kingdome and the Lawes To which it may be answered that which hath beene said before might be sufficient but we may say they have done according to their trust and if they had not done what they did they had gone contrary to their trust indeed for that was the great trust for which they were raised to preserve the Parliament in acting freely for God and so for Religion and the liberties of the Kingdome which else might have beene destroyed and as hath appeared by what hath beene said many times before this they have done in their late actings and therefore they have shewed themselves faithfull and trusty in what they have done in performing their ingagements Againe it is said their violence they offered to the Parliament did exceed that of the Kings by far For answer to this consider the violence pretended by them offered here was because they kept out some persons that were a hindrance to the Parliament in their acting freely for the glory of God in the liberties of the Kingdome and such as had acted against the glory of God and the true liberties of the Kingdome witnesse the Parliaments Declaration of the 18 of January by acting in those votes there mentioned contrary to what had been voted before and were such as when the Parliament was set free to act they were fain for the Kingdomes good and safety to unvote againe but that of the King was in demanding those that did appeare to be most active for the glory of God and the good of the Kingdome And againe that which the Army did they were bound to doe by Covenant as will appeare if what hath been said be considered but what the King did was manifestly against it also that which they did was their duty to do as the cause then stood that which the King did was that which he ought not to have done so as the violence the King did offer did as far exceed theirs as a man that goeth directly contrary to that which the word of God calls for and a man that goes directly to do what the word of God does enjoyn and therefore the Army did what in conscience they were bound to do and what the King did was that which in conscience hâ— should not have done It is further said they have usurped Authority over King and Parliament To which it may be answered for that of the King they were set in authority to doe it and the Covenant did binde them to doe what they did and so no usurpation and the like may be said of what they did to those of the Parliament so as they have neither gone beyond the authority that was given them nor contrary to the end for which it was given them if that which hath been formerly said be well weighed and therefore far from usurpation It is said they intermeddle with things that belong not unto them for answer it may be said they did what belonged to them to doe that which they did being necessary to be done for no other could have done it because they were not able and it being in their power to doe it they were bound to doe it by the Covenant what they did to the King and those Members of Parliament and what they did in their proposals was lawfull for them to doe in the way they did it that so they might communicate their thoughts to the Parliament thereby and I never heard that the Parliament did finde fault with them for so doing nor so upbraid them as you have done and yet I thinke it belonged more properly to the Parliament to do it then to you It is further laid to their charge that they effect that by power which the Laws of God Nature and Nations doe not allow for answer you allow the Parliament might take up Armes against the King and his Party for their owne defence which doe warrant them in what they have done because what they did was in subordination to the Parliament as owning them to be above them for it is plaine what justice was executed upon the King or hath been upon any other except that which doth properly belong to them as Souldiers hath been done by the authority of Parliament they did but bring them to Triall which the Covenant did binde them to doe and they have not hindred the Parliament much lesse usurped authority over them but they have done that which your selves acknowledge they were raised to doe which was to preserve the Parliament from the King and such as were evill disposed and so
evill instruments nor have the Parliament declared against them any such thing nor shewed any dislike in what they have done but rather justifie what they have done by their Declaration and this the Covenant calls for and therefore they are not so to be charged And whereas it is said they offered violence to the Person of the King contrary to the intention of the Parliament in taking up Armes and that they divested him of his regall Authority to which it may be answered when the Parliament first tooke up Armes the breadth of their charity and tendernesse of his honour was such as made them to thinke possibly he might be led chiefly on only by his evill Counsellors and yet they were more tender over the honour of God and the priviledges and Liberties of the whole Kingdome and therefore they raised an Army to go against him if he would oppose that but if he would forsake those wayes he went in and come and joyne with them for the honour of God and the good of the Kingdome they intended no violence to his Person but if he would not nor they could not obtaine it no other way then they resâ—lved to offer violence to his Person for their raysing an Army and sending them out and keeping them in the Field against whom was it but against his Person and Authority for who could have been able to have carried on such opposition but he And besides he was among them in person and therefore as subject to the Bullet and Sword as another man but afterward when many apparent grounds were that it was not from his evill Counsellours alone but from himselfe as appeared when his Cabinet was taken and after when his evill Counsell was gone he went to the Scots and would not come to his Parliament neither hath he yeelded since as hath been said before so as they who will not bee willfully blinde may see the Cause was otherwise and that which was done was necessary and according to the Covenant to divest him of his regall authoritie for the cheife ground did still remaine as at the first for the glory of God and the Priviledges and true Liberties of the Kingdome must be maintained which could not have been don otherways witnesse the Parliaments Declaration of the 18th of January and they knew better how the State-affaires stood then you and we doe besides consider what is said in Mr Cookes booke and it will appeare plainly And againe it is said they being private persons seeke to overthrow and subvert the fundamentall Laws of the Kingdome For answer to the first their being private Persons consider what hath been said formerly and for overthrowing the fundamentall Lawes of the Kingdome that is not so for the contrary is declared by the Parliament for they have said they will maintaine them what the Armie did was in proposalls as hath beene said formerly and so they are not subverted and overthrowne Againe it is said their doings are licencious tending to the subversion of Religion Laws and Liberties of the Kingdome Answer The doings of those especially that your Letter is directed unto have not been irregular if what hath been formerly said be weighed much lesse licencious so far as they have yet acted nor have they been to the subversion of Religion c. but they have acted to the preservation of all while they have set the Parliament in such a condition as they may act for the preservation of them all It is said they have gone against their Oath and Covenant in what they have done For Answer That may suffice that is said formerly they have been so far from going against them that the Parliament and Army have kept them better then any in the Kingdome for they have performed what the Covenant desires in a high degree It is againe said they are fallen into such a condition as they should not be bidden God speed nor be wished well in the name of the Lord. Answer What some dare or will doe I know not but they have acted and kept the Covenant so faithfully of late as the Parl. and Kingd especially the godly party in the Kingdom have cause to blesse them in the name of the Lord and to pray for them for we may not only say Instrumentally they have saved our lives but our families and estates that we have but they have been Instrumentall also to save our liberties and which is most of all our Religion in a more free and full injoyment of it more then ever before and this by their late actings for without this all the former blood and treasure had been lost and the Cause and all the Kingdom left in a worse condition then before It is said they feare they are opening a doore to damnable Errours Heresies and licentious wicked practises For Answer I doe not see Cause so to thinke much lesse to speake but least of all to write so for love thinkes no evill nor dares not except it have manifest witnesse and we are commanded to judge nothing before the time which Rules I conceive are broken in a very high degree being divulged to the world especially against persons as are in such places and of such deserts Againe it is said Religion is made to stinke by reason of their miscarriages and the faces of Gods servants covered with shame and their hearts filled with sorrow and griefe for it It may be answered Religion may be made beautifull and it and the people of God made a sweet savour unto God by their meanes for they have been a meanes to set them at liberty that have power in their hands to give liberty to the people of God so to doe and therefore so far from having their faces covered with shame as they may look their enemies in the face with boldnesse and so far from having their hearts filled with sorrow as there is cause they should be filled with joy and gladnesse to thinke that now those in Parliament may act freely for God in setting his people at liberty to serve him according to the Rules of his Word and the example of the best Reformed Churches and that they may act freely also in the execution of justice between man and man without feare and without partiality and also for any other thing for freedom and liberty of Parliament and Kingdome Againe it is said the golden cord of Government and Authority of Magistrates is broken and laid in the dust by them for answer it is so farre from being broken and laid in the dust by them that it is exalted and made strong by them for they have been a meanes to set them in such a posture they need not to feare but be bold and couragious in acting for God and his glorie and be bold in the true execution of Justice and you know Justice exalteth a Nation so as there is a way made by them instrumentally to the exaltation of the whole Nation Againe it is said they have
there is more required then freedome from ignorance and scandall if you meane grosse ignorance and scandall it is a truth and such a truth as is written and the Lord hath a mouth to speake and therefore we must have an eare to heare and a heart to beleeve and therefore it ought not to be rejected for are we not bidden to examine our selves and is it not necessary to discerne the Lords Body and also to know the danger if we doe not come worthily all which persons grosly ignorant or grosly scandalous cannot nor will not doe and if you meane by freedome from these that we should be wholly free then except you be able to prove what you say against any that they teach so it is a slander and that which you have cause to acknowledge and repent of especially you having put it in print that it may come abroad in the world for we know none require any qualifications above these and therefore I pray consider if beside the slander of that you hold forth be not dangerous to your selves and those you have written to and also to as many as shall read your Book and which is worse derogatory to the glory of Gâ—d And then consider how you will answer for it before him at that great and dreadfull day when you shall be called forth and must appeare to answer for all you have done in the body And whereas you speake of persons casting reproaches upon the Ministers of Christ I beseech you by this little that hath been said if you may not feare it may be a just hand of God against you that people should so doe as also if you doe but look whether you have not gone before them by your owne example to lead them so to doe for have you not done so witnesse what hath been already said of your dealing with others and then is it a wonder you should meet with it your selves nay have you not reproached them with unseemly names as calling them Sectaries and Schismaticks nay have you not gone against the light of your owne Consciences in what you have done while as they walke peaceably and conscientiously among you in the waies of God and so you have done worse then those you condemn which have spoken so of you for although it be not to be approved of that any should reproach you but condemned yet consider if you have not given them just cause so to doe which I hope by that time you have read this Book and considered you will smite upon your owne hearts and confesse you have and then I hope you will take the counsell is given you elsewhere in this Book and learne better language hereafter especially to publish it to the world for I cannot but beleeve you are convinced not only they are the Sâ—rvants of Christ but the Ministers of Christ especially some of them and what a sad thing it is that Ministers should so speake of Ministers if this be not rending of the Church and if it may not be called Schisme yet if it be not very like it let the judicious conscientious and impartiall Reader judge as also what hurt this may do in every place where it shall come especially it being in print and I beseech you consider what root this came from if it be not from pride as hath been formerly said for why should you thus cry out and speake so much evill of them because they will not stoop and come in to you and be of your judgement and goe on in your way why may they not as well finde fault with you because you doe not condiscend to them especially if you consider what hath been said and what is in reverend Mr. Hookers Book and we may the rather beleeve they are in the right way then you because they hold forth most selfe deniall and I beseech you therefore again and againe take heed you be not found raylers at the Churches and people of the living God and such as he will owne at the last day and bring them in Judgement against you for you know what became of him that railed on the Hoast of the living God there was a stone came and made him fall upon the earth and he was destroyed But yours being not only of the Hoast but also of the Ministers of the Lord Christ that stone that is spoken of which is hewn out of the Mountaine will fall upon you and crush you if you be found such for the Church is compared to an Army with Bannors and the Lord Christ is their Generall before whom you will never be able to stand if he come against you which the Lord in his abundant mercy give you hearts to consider of together with all the arguments besides that are written in this book and also al that hath bin or shall be written in any other book that some or all of them may be so gon along withall by his blessing the powerfull working of his Spirit as that it may throughly convince you of your sin that he may follow it on to bring you to true humiliation and acknowledgement of it in such a publike way as may be to hiâ— glory and your owne peace and true comfort that so it may be pardoned and your soules everlastingly saved and that it may doe good and keep from evill all those to whom it shall come whom he shall give a heart to read it impartially which is the whole aime and desire of him who caused it to be printed and to that end shall follow it with his prayers so farre as the Lord doth assist I should have written much more in answer to your Vindication but that I having written so much in answer to your former Booke and not doubting but that others farre more able and fit will give you full answers unto whom I shall willingly leave it and pray they may doe it effectually and with such ends and aimes as the Lord who is the searcher of all hearts may be pleased to goe along with them and it as it may become effectuall to his glory the peace and comfort of their soules and the good of all the Church and people of God and so for this time I shall commit it to him and wait and expect his gracious answer by his blessing upon it The Covenant vindicated against all Intruders and Opposers Gentlemen YOu have in a Letter of yours to the Generall and his Councell of war laid many things to the charge of the Army and so as you make them great offenders which you and all others have cause to consider of because the things therein contained do concerne the Parliament and many of the godly party in the Kingdome they having been such as have been approved of by the one and petitioned by the other and therefore it will be good to consider them againe and againe before we censure them for God does usually reveal his mind to them that feare him and therefore if it
made the Parliament contemptible and torne them in sunder in one day to which it may be answered they have set the Parliament in such a condition that if the Lord be pleased to give them hearts to lay hold of it they may be more exalted and honoured then over Parliament was for they are in such freedome to act as never Parliament was before for they have no negative voyce to trouble or hinder them in going on in any good motion that God shall put into their mind or any other can helpe them to understand by informing of them and for their being torne in sunder I hope that is farre off for I hope they are joyned more sure together then ever and there appeares nothing contrary in their acting but they are more then ever and there is need they should having so many enemies to joyne against them and they so few that stand to act close for God in seeking his glory onely for being in such a condition as they are they have opportunity sweetly to accord and agree together and keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace they having obstructions removed as they have been and are Again it is said they have gone against the Law of God in what they have don in going against Magistrates and are such as God hath condemned under paine of damnation and so are like Caine and Corah and his companie and so are gathered together against the Lord and so to be taken as wicked men and rebells and as if Jehu like they murdered Kings under specious pretences For answer They have done the Law of God which saith whosoever sheddeth mans blood by man shall his blood be shed And thou shalt take nâ— recompence for the life of a murtherer for blood defileth the Land and the Land cannot be purged of the blood that is shed but by the blood of him that shed it so as what they have done in bringing such to tryall hath been their dutie to God the Covenant and Kingdome and therefore are not such as God will condemn but approve of and instead of going against Magistrates they have and do act for the upholding of them in their acting for God and therefore they may comfortably expect a blessing from God they being for God and their Covenant and so are far unlike Caine and Corah c. and therefore do not deserve the name of wicked men in their sence for they rebelled against the servants of the Lord to set up themselves and so have not these done yet Nor are they to be accounted as Rebells for they have been apprehending of Rebells and have been so far from going against them that have acted for the glory of God that they have acted for their peace and for the safety preferment and libertie not only of such of them as are in Parliament but for those that are al over the Nation and therefore may be called more truly Saviours then Rebells And for Jesuitish practises for private persons to murther Kings It is very evill to apply this to them for as hath been said formerly they were not private men but publick being set in publicke place by the highest Authoritie and what they did was far from murther for they did but bring him forth to Tryall which the Covenant did bind them unto and hee had his Tryall according to the power of the highest Court in the Kingdome and therefore they are not to be called murtherers of Kings nor in any degree to be held forth to be such as have done any such thing under specious pretences And whereas it is said they do that which they would condemn in others in possessing the Kings person and carrying him from place to place without and against the Parliaments consent and the like was in the removing the Parliaments guards and continuing new modells destructive to this and all other Parliaments with other acts of like nature Answer They have done that which I hope they would commend in others and charity binds me so to thinke for because that they did was good for for ceazing the Kings person was necessary for their own the Parliament and Kingdomes safety that so hee might not be at his own nor the Parliaments dispose at present while there were so prevalent a party for him which might have indangered all that which they had beene so long striving for and that had cost so much blood and treasure and that it was so appeareth in the Parliaments Declaration for they say there was a strong party to hinder the good of the Kingdome And for the removing of the King from place to place that was to the same end But whereas it is said to be against the Parliaments consent Answer it hath not appeared so for they did never send to the Army to have him out of their hands and besides they had him not so but the Parliament might have free accesse to him at their pleasure and had untill they voted they would have no more and yet afterward when their minds changed they had acccesse to him againe and such as might have hazzarded the good of the Kingdome and Cause and all and besides they offered no wrong to him all the while they had him in their custody and for removing the Parliaments guards what harme was in that or cause of complaint for the City was eased thereby of a burthen and charge for it was all one price for the Souldiers must have been paid if they had not done it and for the Parliament they never complained of it and for contriving new modells it hath been often answered it was but propounded but that that which was propounded was destructive to this and all other Parliaments I never yet understood but it was for the better carrying on of this and all other Parliaments and keeping them from corrupting and easing them of the burthen of sitting so long before they have any respit and setting the people of the Kingdome at liberty often in their choise that so if they be mistaken one time they may endeavour to avoid it in the next and so one Parliament may amend if others have done amisse and for other causes of the like nature and you may see they were mistaken in their thoughts of this Parliament being set a time but they sit still and those that propounded for their breaking up are content and I hope thankfull to God and them that they are content to sit and take pains for to settle the worke they have begun and made so great a progresse in and I hope I may say the like for many of the godly party in the Kingdome And it is further said it was once thought of them a matter of offence of a high nature to endeavour the destruction of fundamentall Lawes and to disswade the calling of Parliaments and the breaking up of Parliaments and to countenance Arminians and connive at Papists and now as if it were commendable in them to